Self-winding electric clock.



PATBNTED MAR. 17, 1903.

0. A. EN HOLM.

SELF WINDING ELECTRIC, CLOCK.

APPLICATION 'FLLBD DEG .11, 1901.

10 MODEL.

uv VE/VTOR WITNESSES A TTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR A. EN HOLM, OF NElV YORK, Y.

SELF-WINDING ELECTRIC CLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 722,684, dated March 17, 1903.

Application filed December 11, 1901. Serial No. 85,460. '(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR A. EN HoLM, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clock Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to clock mechanism, and is particularly applicable to weightdriven clocks in which the weight is restored to driving position by electrical means.

The invention has special reference to the means for maintaining the driving power constant during the time the weight is being restored, the improved means for communicating the power of the weight to the clock mechanism, and the magnet for applying with precision a maximum of electric power to restore the weight and to overcome the inertia thereof when restored.

Other features of advantage are also embodied in the invention and will be referred to more in detail hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a rear View of a clock embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same with a portion of the magnet broken away. Fig. 3 is a detail with parts broken away, showing the connection between the clock mechanism and the arm connected to the weight. Fig. 4 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 6 are respective details of the parts of the lever between the drivingdrum and the clock mechanism and of the arm connected to the drivingweight, and Fig. 7 is a detail showing a modified form of arm between the drum and the driving-weight.

In the drawings, 1 represents the base upon which the frames 2 and 3 are supported, the frame 3 being separated from frame 2 by the usual posts 4 and 5. The usual minute and hour hands 6 and 7 are respectively mounted upon the shaft 8 and upon the collar 9, loosely mounted upon shaft 8. Collar 9 is geared,

through the usual gear 10, pinion 11, and gear 12, mounted upon a stud 13, fixed in frame 2, with the pinion 14, which is carried by shaft 8. Upon shaft 8 is mounted the usual gearwheel 15, which meshes with pinion 16, the latter being attached to a collar 17 upon the shaft 18.

Fixed to collar 17 is a gear 19, meshing with pinion 20, mounted upon the shaft 21. Upon the latter shaft is the usual gear-wheel 22, meshing with a pinion 23, mounted upon the escapement-shaft 24, which shaft carries the escapement-wheel 25, controlled in the usual manner by any suitable form of escapement mechanism-such as the balancewheel 26, spring 27, and escapement-lever 28--or, if preferred, the clock may be pendulum regulated. Suitably mounted in the frames 1 and 2 is a driving-shaft 29, which carries a gear-wheel 30, meshing with the gear 15. Loosely swiveled upon shaft 29 is a collar 31, from which project, respectively, the arm 32 and the cam 33. Arm 32 may be provided with the perforated projections 34 35, and a rod 36 ispivoted at one end to a pin 37, carried by the rod 38, to be hereinafter described. A drum 39, open at one side and having a projecting collar 40, is also loosely mounted .upon shaft 29. Collar 31 and cam 33 are so adjusted with respect to the inner surface of the rim of the drum that the grooved cam-surface 41 upon cam 33 is adjacent to the rim of the drum, and a ball 42 is inserted in the groove 41 between the cam and the rim. The grooved end 41 of the cam follows the line of an involute curve with respect to the inner periphery of the drum, and by reason of this the weight of ball 42 will cause the same to normally clutch the cam 33 with the drum 39; but the relative formation of the rim and cam is such that the slightest downward movement of the cam will disengage the parts, whereas the slightest upward movement thereof will clutch the same. Upon the frame 3 is also mounted an abutment 43, having a grooved face 44, which follows the line of an involute curve with respect to the outer face of the drum, and between the grooved cam-surface 44 and the outer face of the drum 39 is aball 45. Thus two oppositely-acting clutches are formed, one to communicate movement of cam 33 to drum 39 in one direction and the other to prevent backward movement of drum 39 when cam 33 is not in action. A lever 46 is pivoted intermediate its ends upon the collar 40 and is provided at its opposite ends, respectively, with a transverse slot 47 and an opening 48. A screw 49 projects through the slot 47 in lever 46 and engages a projection 50, carried by the drum 39. Screw 49 thus clamps the end of lever 46 to the drum 39 and is adjustable with respect to the same. Upon gear-wheel 30 is carried a pin 51, which projects through the opening 48 in lever 46. The relative diameters of pin 51 and opening 48 are such that a given lateral movement of the pin 51 is permitted in the opening 48. Aspring 52 is attached at one end of the IO projection 50 and after encircling the collar 40 is attached to the pin 51 and is so arranged that it normally forces the pin 51 against the side of opening 48 opposite to that which would normally be engaged by the pin upon the rotation of drum 39 and lever46 through the agency of the cam The tension of the spring is sufficient to drive the clock mechanism, but not sufficient to overcome the force which rotates drum 39.

The rod 38 is vertically movable and suitably guided in the cross-bars 53, which are carried by the upper standards 54, the latter being suitably supported by the supports 55 upon the frame 2. Mounted upon the standards 54 54 is the electromagnet 55, which actuates the weight 56, carried by the rod 38. A suitable switch is arranged to be closed when the weight has dropped to the limit of its movement. A convenient form of such switch is shown in the drawings, in which aglass bulb 56 is mounted in the holder 57, pivoted to the frame 3 and carrying a bifurcated arm 58, the bifurcations of which arm respectively straddle a pin 59, which projects from the rod 5 38. The glass bulb 56 is hermetically sealed and incloses the terminals 60 and 61 and also a body of mercury 62, which is out of contact with the terminals 60 and 61 when the weight 56 is in its highest position. As the weight descends the pin 59 meets the arm 58 and the bulb 56, so that the mercury moves into contact with both terminals 60 and 61. From any suitable battery wire 63 passes through the base 1 to a binding-post 64, insulated from the frame 2, and from bindingpost 64 a wire 65 leads to binding-post 66, which is insulated from the frame 3. From binding-post wire 67 leads to terminal 60. Terminal 61 is connected by wire 68 through the pivot 57 to frame 3, and from frame 3 wire 69 leads to the coil of magnet 55. From the coil of magnet wire 70 leads to binderpost 71, insulated from frame 2, and from this a wire 72 leads through base 1 to the battery.

The coil of magnet 55 may be of ordinary construction and wound with wire, and, in fact, any suitable form of magnet may be employed; but in order to apply the maximum of electric power to raising the weight and to utilize the same power to prevent the weight from being carried beyond its restored position I provide the special form of magnet shown. This comprises a brass tube 73, which surrounds the weight 56 and serves to some extent as a guide therefor and also serves as a spool upon which the coil of the magnet is wound.

At each end of the coil is a pole-piece 74, of magnetic material, surrounding the weight and presenting considerable surface to the weight 56, which, like the pole-pieces 74, is of magnetic material. The coil of the magnet may be of wire wound in the usual manner, but preferably comprises a single flat strip or ribbon of copper or other suitable conducting material. One end of this strip is soldered to the brass tube 73. A strip of paper or other insulation of the same width as the copper ribbon is superposed on the copper, and the two ribbons are wound upon the tube, the paper serving to insulate the convolutions of the copper ribbon. When the coil is wound, the paper strip is out and the end of the copper strip soldered upon itself, as indicated at 75 in Fig. 2. Between the ends of the copper strip and the ends 74 of the magnet suitable disks of insulated material 76 are interposed. This construction gives a uniform distribution of the current in the coil of the magnet, and consequently the power of the magnet is increased to maximum with a given current, and also provides a coil of more attractive appearance than that wound in the usual manner with wire. When the magnet 55 is energized, the ends 74 act as pole-pieces, and the core 56 being also polarized is attracted upward by the action of the coil and also the magnetism of the pole-pieces 74. When the weight reaches its restored position and the circuit is broken, as hereinafter described, the residual magnetism in the ends 74 will act to prevent further movement of the weight 56.

lnstead of connecting the arm 32 with rod 38 through the sliding rod 36, as shown in Fig. 4, it may be connected bya link 77, pivoted to the end of the arm 32 and to the pin 37, as shown in Fig. 7. This latter construction will be found to reduce the friction between the parts to a minimum. The link 77 will be of such length that as rod 38 moves up and down the link will not swing very far away from the rod, as is shown in dotted lines in the drawings.

The weight 56 having been raised to its highest position, it tends to travel downward and in so doing turns arm 32 and cam 33 in such direction as to wedge the ball 42 between cam 33 and the rim of drum 39, thus causing the drum to turn with arm 32. The turning of the drum in this direction is not interfered with by the ball 45, because the latter will readily roll along the surfaces of the drum and at the same time by gravity be maintained in cont-act with the drum and the abutment 43. The turning of drum 39 in this direction compresses spring 52 against the pin 51, and against compression of the spring the pin 51 turns gear-Wheel 30, thus driving the works of the clock. As the weight moves downward the pin 59 moves arm 58, as before described, until when the weight has reached the limit of its travel the mercury 62 closes the electric circuit through the contacts 60 and 61. This energizes the coil of the magnet, which acts to raise weight 56. As the weight rises the pin 59 on rod 38 bears against the power-arm 58 and turns the glass bulb 56, which causes the mercury 62 to roll out of contact with the terminals and 61, thus breaking the circuit. At the time the circuitis closed and the weight 56 rises the arm 32 is also raised and the clutch between the cam 33 and drum 39 releases; but at the same time the ball 45 becomes operative to prevent backward rotation of drum 39 by clutching drum 39 and abutment 43. The tension of spring 52 then operates against the pin 51 to continue the turning of gearwheel 30. The entire upward movement of the weight occupies but an instant of time, and therefore the spring 52 needs to drive the gear-wheel 30 only a very short distance. Consequently the opening 48 need not be very much larger than the diameter of the pin in order to permit sufficient movement of wheel 30 during the time the weight is being raised. As soon as the weight is raised its own weight immediately compresses the spring 52, and the weight will then drive the clock-works, as above described.

It will be understood, of course, that the construction above described may be modified in various respects without departing from the invention, and I therefore do not limitmyself to the specific construction herein shown.

Having thus described my invention, I declare that what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a clock, the combination of a drivingshaft, a gear mounted on said shaft and engaging with one of the rotatable members of the hand-operating mechanism, a drum journaled on said shaft, a lever pivoted intermediate of said gear and said drum and having a loose connection at one end with said gear and at the other end a loose connection with said drum, a movable clutch mechanism for engaging with said drum to rotate the latter in one direction, a fixed clutch mechanism for holding said drum when rotated in a direction opposite to that in which it is rotated by said movable clutch mechanism, and a spring for moving said lever and said drum relatively to each other and normally pressing said drum in the direction opposite to that in which it is moved by said movable clutch mechanism.

2. In a clock, the combination of a drivingshaft, a gear mounted on said shaft and engaging with one of the rotatable members of the hand-operating mechanism, a drum provided with a hub journaled on said shaft, a lever pivoted on the hub of said drum and having openings in its opposite ends, a screw carried by said drum and engaging with the opening in one of the ends of said lever, a pin carried by said gear and engaging with the opening in the other end of said lever, a movable clutch for turning said drum in one direction, a fixed clutch for holding said drum when rotated in the opposite direction, and a spring coiled about the hub of said drum and engaging with said screw and said pin to move said lever and said drum relatively to each other and also to move said drum in opposition to said movable clutch.

3. In a clock, the combination of a drivingshaft, a gear mounted on said shaft and engaging with one of the rotatable members of the hand-operating mechanism, a drum provided with a hub loosely swiveled on said shaft, a clutch carried by said collar and adapted to engage with said drum, an arm mounted on said collar, means for oscillating said arm to rotate said collar, a second clutch adapted to engage with said drum to hold the same when it is rotated in the direction opposite to that in which it is rotated by the clutch carried by the collar, a lever pivoted on said hub and having an opening in each end, a pin carried by said gear and engaging with the opening in one of the ends of said lever, a screw projecting from said drum and engaging with. the opening in the other end of said lever, and a spring coiled on said hub and engaging with said pin and said screw to move said lever and said drum relatively to each other and also to move said drum again st the action of the first-mentioned clutch.

4. In a clock, the combination of a drivingshaft, a gear mounted on said shaft and engaging with one of the rotatable members of the hand-operating mechanism, a drum journaled on said shaft, a lever pivoted intermediate of said gear and said drum and having a loose connection at one end with said gear and at the other end a loose connection with said drum, a movable clutch mechanism for engaging said drum to rotate the latter in one direction, a fixed clutch mechanism for holding said drum when rotated in a direction opposite to that in which it is rotated by said movable clutch mechanism, a spring for moving said lever and said drum relatively to each other and normally pressing said drum in the direction opposite to that in which it is moved by said movable clutch mechanism, a rod connected with said movable clutch mechanism, a weight attached to said rod, and an electromagnet for raising said weight.

5. In a clock, the combination of a drivingshaft, a gear mounted on said shaft and engaging with one of the rotatable members of the hand-operating mechanism, a drum journaled on said shaft, a lever pivoted interme diate of said gear and said drum and having a loose connection at one end with said gear and at-the other end a loose connection with said drum, a movable clutch mechanism for engaging said drum to rotate the latter in one direction, a fixed clutch mechanism for holding said drum when rotated in the direction opposite to that in which it is rotated by said movable clutch mechanism, a spring for moving said lever and said drum relatively to each other and normally pressing said drum in the direction opposite to that in which it is moved by said movable clutch mechanism, a rod con- IIO &

nected with said movable clutch mechanism, a driving-weight attached to said rod, and a restoring-magnet comprising two separated poles of magnetic material surrounding said weight intermediate said poles, and a coil also surrounding said weight and influencing the same.

6. In aclock, the combination of a drivingshaft, a gear mounted on said shaft and engaging With one of the rotatable members of said hand-operating mechanism, a drum journaled on said shaft, a lever pivoted intermediate of said gear and said drum and having a loose connection at one end with said gear and at the other end a loose connection with said drum, a movable clutch mechanism for engaging said drum to rotate the latter in one direction, a fixed clutch mechanism for holding said drum when rotated in a direction opposite to that in which it is rotated by said movable clutch mechanism, a spring for moving said lever and said drum relatively to each other and normally pressing said drum in the direction opposite to that in which it is moved by said movable clutch mechanism, a rod connected with said movable clutch mechanism, a driving-weight attached to said rod, and a restoring-magnet comprising two separated poles of magnetic material surrounding said weight, and a coil consisting of a ribbon of conducting material interposed between said poles and Wound around the Weight with its convolntions insulated from each other.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

OSCAR A. EN HOLM.

Witnesses:

O. V. EDWARDS, HENRY BEsT. 

